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For 14 years from 1995—more than one-quarter of the Chamber’s existence!—Neil was our ‘hired gun.’ Now back in the Vancouver area, he is CEO of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of B.C. Here’s what he remembers…
After my first Japan stint in 1987, I bounced back and forth from Vancouver until 1995 when I returned for a third time, along with my Fukuoka-born wife. As all foreigners did in those days, I picked up Monday’s Japan Times. In it I found an ad from the CCCJ seeking a new executive director. So I applied. After several interviews, including one with CCCJ president Tony Buckley of Canadian Airlines, I got the job—and soon found myself completely immersed in it.
I started in April 1995 just before Golden Week, a quiet time when I busied myself by wading through a stack of boxes in the Chamber’s then-new office. Browsing through a file labelled “Japan Import Board,” I found a formal invitation to represent Canada at a high-level meeting scheduled to take place in a few days—and I decided to go. But as I entered the very large and formal meeting setting, I suddenly realized I was out of my depth. I’d never been in a meeting like this before and had no briefing or knowledge of the issues. I began to sweat profusely, wondering how I was going to respond.
Following opening remarks and presentations by MITI officials, the chairman of Itochu went around the table asking representatives from various nations for their views. A couple of the Europeans raised concerns but—thank heavens!—the American, Australian and British chambers all replied that they had no issues to raise. I was off the hook. All I had to do was say the same thing. My panic mode then subsided and my heart returned to its regular beat.
That’s how it began. But over the next 14 years I grew into the job.
In the mid-1990s the Chamber’s membership grew to include a sizable cadre of Canadian expatriates—both representatives of Canadian firms and people working for multinational or Japanese firms. Their volunteer energy helped shape CCCJ’s transition to a more business-focused and member-driven organization.
We had a very active leadership team with board members like Tony Buckley of Canadian Airlines, Nobukatsu Nishimura of Wood Gundy, Bill Noble of RBC, Glen Bonderud of MacMillan Bloedel, Nicolas Rouse of Alcan and Kirk Patterson of AIG. Corporate Secretary Michael Strong helped guide me through governance procedures on many long, late-night calls. He later chaired our newly formed Trade Policy Committee that shaped CCCJ’s advocacy framework.
Communicating with our growing membership was a key concern. Our quarterly magazine, The Canadian, first published in 1988, covered a broad spectrum of issues. And in late 1995 we published our first-ever membership directory, Connections. Plus, we produced a Canadian Airlines–sponsored monthly newsletter, The Bulletin, that provided timely information on Chamber activities. In 1997, when the internet was still in its infancy, we launched our first website.
Through it all, we enjoyed unstinting support from the Canadian Embassy and successive ambassadors. Joint events included regular corporate breakfasts at the official residence that gave members a chance to engage with the ambassadors and senior diplomats. After the new embassy complex had opened in 1991 all sorts of new events became possible, including lectures in the Oscar Peterson Theatre and bonenkai receptions that regularly attracted 500 guests—vital and not-to-be-missed networking opportunities.
In 1996, the CCCJ’s Trade Policy Committee, led by Michael Strong, released its first position paper: Trade Issues in Selected Sectors of the Japanese Market, which focused on barriers to food, agriculture, forest products and telecommunications. Presented to Canada’s Minister for International Trade, Art Eggleton, this paper was a significant milestone in the Chamber’s history: the first time we played a key role in shaping trade policies and advocacy for reforms. The Chamber later spearheaded the Canada–Japan Social Security Agreement.
One valid criticism of the international business and diplomatic community is that too often we can’t see Japan beyond the Yamanote Line: we are too Tokyo-centric. Recognizing this, in 1997 the Chamber established CCCJ-Kansai, with support from the Osaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OCCI). Itsuo Naniwa was the key man in this effort. An Osaka native and former RBC banker in Canada, Naniwa-san secured office space for us in the OCCI building and arranged a wonderful inauguration that included a Shinto blessing for our efforts.
Among the Chamber’s key roles is providing a podium for visiting Canadian political and business leaders, often at luncheon events to which the media are invited. Over the course of 14 years I arranged countless such events, often for provincial premiers like Ontario’s Dalton McGuinty and Mike Harris, and B.C.’s Gordon Campbell, or high-profile CEOs like CN’s Paul Tellier or Tom D’Aquino of the Business Council on National Issues.
We welcomed many dignitaries over the years, and some left an indelible imprint—like Hazel McCallion, the mayor of Mississauga, Ontario, who addressed CCCJ-Kansai members. Or Ralph Klein, Alberta’s colourful, controversial and popular premier.
When Klein visited Tokyo in 1998, we interviewed him for The Canadian in the very informal setting of an Ikebukuro kissaten (coffee shop). He was very down-to-earth, personable and candid, and spoke of the need for political self-accountability. He related how he and his staff all took pay cuts to show Albertans they were serious about balancing the budget.
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien visited Japan twice in the late 1990s. In 1995, he joined us for a special corporate member event that gave members a chance to engage with the prime minister.
During Chrétien’s 1999 visit, part of a larger Team Canada tour of Asia, a reception was held at the ANA Hotel in Roppongi for the large contingent which included many Canadian business leaders.
During the reception, the CCCJ was to meet the prime minister in the cordoned-off VIP area. But I couldn’t find our president in the crowd and I didn’t want to miss the chance, so I went to the front, where I spotted Caroline Chrétien, the PM’s niece, who oversaw everything. Having spoken to her at a social event the night before, she remembered me and took me by the arm, cutting through all the Japanese dignitaries waiting to meet the prime minister so that I could speak with him.
In Singapore a few days earlier, when a reporter asked Chrétien about the recent bankruptcy of Canada’s famous retailer, Eaton’s, the PM quipped that playing hockey as a kid he wore Eaton’s catalogues as shin pads. After Caroline introduced me, I said, “Prime Minister, you and I have something in common: as kids, we both wore Eaton’s catalogues as shin pads.” That triggered a loud laugh that caused bemused looks among the security detail and nearby dignitaries. We then had a good chat about Japan.
Then as now, in the late ’90s the Maple Leaf Ball was the highlight of the CCCJ’s social calendar, attracting 300 guests. Preparations began months before as the Ball Committee gathered to discuss themes, arrange prizes, choose wines and attend a pre-ball tasting of the Canadian-inspired menu created by the ambassador’s chef Bob Matthews, and his successor, Terazaki-san.
Each year, Prince and Princess Takamado graced us by attending. One year at the Royal Park Hotel, Their Imperial Highnesses, and other head table guests, were in the green room enjoying the Krug champagne (the Prince’s preferred tipple) that we always provided.
Meanwhile guests in the ballroom waited for the Imperial couple to enter, turning to look each time the doors opened. And waited. After several false alarms, the hotel manager summoned me to the green room door. It turned out the occupants were all enjoying themselves so much that the hotel staff were afraid to interrupt. As I gently knocked on the door and poked my head into the room, Prince Takamado, seeing me, realized it was time to go. I rushed back to my table so as not to get caught in the head table entrance.
When the Prince passed away on November 21, 2002, the Ball was to take place the following Friday, November 29. Naturally, we had to cancel or at least postpone. In the end, with the help of the Imperial Household Agency, we were able to reschedule to March. In a tremendous sign of support, every sponsor and guest allowed us to hold their funds until March.
Before that March Ball, CCCJ president David Iwaasa had been taking formal lessons in anticipation of partnering with Princess Takamado in the first dance. When he learned that the princess declined to do a first dance that year, David was quietly relieved.
Those final eventful years of the 20th Century propelled the Chamber into the next century. In 2009, my treasured counterpart at the BCCJ, the late Ian de Stains, told me he believed our respective chambers had “experienced the golden years in Japan.” He was right.
